Where the World Cup Is Played

Arena de Sao Paulo

The Arena de Sao Paulo has been chosen to host the opening match of Brazil 2014 and will also welcome five other encounters, including one semi-final.

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Arena de Sao Paulo

The Arena de Sao Paulo has been chosen to host the opening match of Brazil 2014 and will also welcome five other encounters, including one semi-final.

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Arena Fonte Nova

Maintaining the proud tradition of the Fonte Nova stadium, which was demolished in 2010, the new stadium Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil will host four group matches, three of them featuring top-seeded teams, as well as a round-of-16 match and a quarter-final tie.

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Arena Pantanal, Cuiaba

Specially built for the 2014 World Cup, where it will host four matches, the Arena Pantanal boasts a capacity of 39,859 and occupies the site where the Estadio Jose Fragelli used to be. This multi-purpose stadium has an adaptable structure, which can be reduced in size once Brazil 2014 is over.

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Maracana

Built for the 1950 FIFA World Cup Brazil, the Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho, better known as the Maracana, is the largest soccer stadium in Brazil with a capacity for 74,698. The Rio de Janeiro stadium will be in the limelight once again at Brazil 2014, hosting seven games in all, more than any other venue. Among those matches will be the final on July 13.

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Arena Pernambuco, Recife

The Arena Pernambuco, which is part of a complex also featuring restaurants, shopping centers and cinemas, is located in Sao Lourenco da Mata in Recife's metropolitan zone.

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Estadio Beira-Rio

Located in a picture-postcard setting, on reclaimed land on the banks of the River Guaiba, the Estadio Beira-Rio is the largest football ground in the south of Brazil and nicknamed the "Gigante do Beira-Rio" (The Giant of Beira-Rio). The stadium is officially known as the Estadio Jose Pinheiro Borda and was opened in 1969. It had taken nearly a decade to build, with fans of the Inter Milan pro soccer club in Italy lending a helping hand in its construction by donating bricks, cement and iron.

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Estadio das Duna

The Estadio das Dunas stadium project, with its name and undulating structure relating to the sand dunes that are one of the most impressive natural attractions in the Natal region, was built specifically for the 2014 World Cup. Two older stadiums, the Machadão and neighboring Humberto Nesi, known as the Machadinho, were demolished to make room for a bigger and more modern venue.

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Arena Amazonia

Though not a traditional hotbed of Brazilian football, Manaus is sure to be popular with fans attending the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, thanks to the unique character of the Arena Amazonia, formerly the Estadio Vivaldao. The city is situated in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, the largest tropical rainforest in the world and the inspiration for the refurbished stadium, which will be enclosed by a metal structure designed to resemble a straw basket, a product the region is famous for.

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Estadio Castelao

Built in 1973 and officially known as the Estadio Governador Placido Castelo, the Castelao is home to both teams and has been entirely renovated to host matches at the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. As well as having its capacity increased to 60,348, the revamped stadium will boast an underground car park with 1,900 spaces, executive boxes, a VIP area, media center, mixed zone and fully refurbished dressing rooms. In addition, a new roof now covers all its tiers, including the pitch-side ring of seating.

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Estadio Mineirao

Estadio Mineirao is one of the most historic venues in Brazil. Located in Belo Horizonte, it opened in 1965 and recently underwent a major overhaul in preparation for the World Cup.

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Estadio Nacional de Brasilia

Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha is located in the capital, Brasilia. Described as imposing, it is one of three stadiums in Brasilia alone and it is the second largest of the World Cup stadiums.

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Arena da Baixada

Ever since renovation works were completed in June 1999, the historic Estadio Joaquim Americo, better known as the Arena da Baixada, has been considered one of Brazil's most modern and best-appointed stadiums.